Voronezh Nuclear Heating Plant, Unfinished nuclear heating plant in Shilovo, Russia.
The Voronezh Nuclear Heating Plant is an unfinished nuclear facility in Shilovo located on the right bank of the Voronezh River in central Russia. The site was designed to house two reactor units of 500 MW each to supply the city with district heating.
Construction started in 1983 during the Soviet era when the government planned to supply the city with nuclear district heating. The project halted in 1990 after local residents voted against this heating approach in a referendum.
The plant represents the engineering capabilities of Soviet nuclear technology, designed to supply centralized heat to the population of Voronezh.
The site lies downstream from central Voronezh and is not accessible to visitors since the incomplete facility remains closed to the public. You can view the structures from nearby areas or join guided tours if available during travel planning.
The AST-500 reactor features 121 fuel assemblies made of zirconium-based alloy, utilizing an integral water-cooled and moderated system design.
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